All throughout February 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman mentioned the condition of the Bangladeshis stuck in West Pakistan and UN’s assistant secretary general Paul Mark Henry went to the UN headquarters with Bangabandhu’s special message, expressing concern over the plight of the stranded Bangladeshis.
Until Feb 21, 8.7 million refugees came back to Bangladesh. Many refugees returning from India complained of inadequate relief.
It was reported that relief and rehabilitation work were being hampered due to lack of transport. Bangladesh had enough food grain but insufficient vehicles to take them to the affected areas.
Bangabandhu’s special message to the UN contained a request for intervention to stop the persecution of Bangladeshis stuck in West Pakistan.
Bangabandhu also declared that those government and semi government officials who took part in the liberation movement will get one month’s wages.
In an interview given in February, 1972, Bangabandhu said: “Bangladesh is profoundly grateful to the USSR for its support during the war; my government will work alongside the Soviet government to foil the conspiracies of imperial forces.”
Till Feb, 8.7 million refuges came back to Bangladesh. UN sources said that during the Pakistan army crackdown, 9.9 million took refuge in India.